Review: The Edge of Falling by Rebecca Serle

The Edge of Falling by Rebecca Serle

Growing up in privileged, Manhattan social circles, Caggie’s life should be perfect, and it almost was until the day that her younger sister drowned when Caggie was supposed to be watching her. Stricken by grief, Caggie pulls away from her friends and family, only to have everyone misinterpret a crucial moment when she supposedly saves a fellow classmate from suicide. Now she’s famous for something she didn’t do and everyone lauds her as a hero. But inside she still blames herself for the death of her sister and continues to pull away from everything in her life, best friend and perfect boyfriend included. Then Caggie meets Astor, the new boy at school, about whom rumours are swirling and known facts are few. In Astor she finds someone who just might understand her pain, because he has an inner pain of his own. But the more Caggie pulls away from her former life to be with Astor, the more she realises that his pain might be darker, and deeper, than anything she’s ever felt. His pain might be enough to end his life…and Caggie’s as well.

Publishes in US: March 18th 2014 by Simon Pulse 
Genre: YA Contemp
Source: Edelweiss
Series? No.

Buy it: Amazon Barnes and Noble

Author stalk away: ~site Facebook Page Twitter @RebeccaASerle
Instagram rebecca_serle

  more like 2.5

    I wanted to read The Edge of Falling because I love a good contemporary and this has all of the ingredients Guilt over being on watch when her sister drowned, the saving of a suicide that's not all it seems, and a mysterious boy with a past that sounds dark. So, I was glad to grab it when it was available for review on Edelweiss.

    I got right into the story, liking Caggie's voice and learning about the important things in her life. But can we talk about the nickname? Points for originality, but man, it rubbed me the wrong way. I just didn't like it maybe because I've never heard in real life or maybe because it is something I would never want to be called. But anyways, name rant over.

    I really wanted to get to the bottom of the dynamics with her and Trevor. He seemed to still care so much and try to talk to her, so I suspected early on that it was because she had pushed him away while grieving for her sister, and that was something that he couldn't handle. Not that a teenage boy would necessarily know how to help or be there anyways, just not enough life experience I guess. I liked her memories of them dating and was rooting for him with the information I had, provided there wasn't some big twist where he was a jerk or did something with big consequences. 

    I didn't care much for Laila, Caggie's best friend. It seemed that Caggie never portrayed her in the best light and I didn't feel that sense of bonding and love that I usually get from best friends in high school. 

    I thought that this story would be more about the events of her sister drowning, and what happened on the roof, but there was a lot of mundane drama that sandwiched the events that got my attention in the synopsis, and it felt like, especially at first, it was a deli ultra thin slice of meat we were given about the traumatic events, and the emotions. 

     I connected with her some, but mostly Caggie was really detached. And trust me I get that in grieving or with depression that numbness and detachment are part of it, to keep us alive and going. But when I am reading, I need to be let under the surface a little more to connect before the character goes all detached. 

    What I did love was how Caggie came to life when her brother Peter was there. She laughed, teased and opened up, feeling like it was okay to feel how she does, and hope of working things out. But that was only a tiny slice again, and while I loved what I saw, I wanted more of the brother and sister dynamics. 

    The ending was more where it finally picked up, I understood Caggie more and the pieces came together. 

Bottom Line: Great premise just a little short on execution on top of detached protagonist.

My question to you, my lovely readers:
Have you ever saved or failed to save anyone?